Stalk-cutter.



T. A. HENRY.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1910.

970,709. Pmnteasepf. 20,1910.

3 BHEBTB-BHBBT 1.

lnuzntov 4 annum" CLM/vw@ T. A. HENLEY.

STA'LK GUTTER.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED un. 15, 1910.

` 970,709. V 4 Patented Sepp. 2o, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T. A. yHENLEY. STALK CUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 15, 1910.

970,709. Patented sept.2o,191o.

3 SHEETS-TSHET 3.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE..

THOMAS A. HENLEY, OF ENOLA, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JESSEE M. REYNOLDS, OF VILONIA, ARKANSAS.

STALK-CUTTER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

Application led March 15, 1910. Serial No. 549,427.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. I-IENLEY,

`a citizen of the United States, residing at y Enola, in the county of Faulkner and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Stalk-Cutter, of which the following is a specification.

` serve to hold the said element yieldingly -of construction and combinations of l y in contact with the Ground.

A further object 1s to provide a cutting element includino` a body capable of being utilized as a roller, there being a series of blades detachably connected to said body.

A further object is to provide a cutting element so mounted as to readily yield when moved against an obstruction.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel details arts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has een shown.

In said drawings z-Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line A-B of Fig-2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of a slightly modified form of machine. Fig. 5 is a section on line C-D of Fig. 4.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 and 2 designate the front and l. rear axles of the machine, each axle being carried by supporting Wheels 3 and the two axles supporting a frame 4 on which the drivers seat 5 is mounted. An arcuate guard 6 is supported upon the frame 4 and under and back of the seat, the same serving to prevent portions of stalks, etc., from being violently thrown against the driver during the operation of the machine. As

shown in Fig. 1, the guard extends prac? l y ticallythroughout the width of the frame 4.

An auxiliary frame 7 is disposed below the main frame 4 and between the front and rear wheels 3, this auxiliary frame being supported at its front end by upper and lower rods 8 and 9 respectively, connected by means of turn buckles 10, the upper rods being pivotally attached to the main frame 4 while the lower rods are pivotally connected to the auxiliary frame. The rear end of said auxiliary frame is pivotally connected to the main frame by means of chains 11, or other flexible devices, the said chains and rods being so disposed as to converge downwardly as clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

Each side of the auxiliary frame 7 has a downwardly and forwardly inclined hanger 12 provided with a longitudinal slot 13 and slidably and revolubly mounted within these slots are trunnions 14 extending from the ends of a roller 15. Each of these trunnions 14 is journaled within the lower end of a bar 16, the upper end of which has a head 17 slidably mounted on guide rods 18.

These rods have an integral stem 19 at their i upper ends, said stem extending through and being attached to the guard 6, the connection being such as to permit a slight swinging movement of the stem 19 relative to the guard. A coiled sprinof 20 extends around the guide rods 18 and bears at one end against the guard 6 and at its other end against the head 17. As shown in Fig. 1, a rod 16, guide rods 18 and spring 20 are provided at each side of the machine and it will be found that the spring, by exerting a constant downward pressure against the head 17, serves to hold the trunnions 14 normally in position at the lower ends of the slots 18. Chains or other flexible devices, such as indicated at 21, are attached to the trunnions 14 and extend upward to and are designed to be wound upon drums 22, each of which is provided with a ratchet lever 23 whereby it can be conveniently rotated. By means of these drums and ratchet levers, the auxiliary frame and the parts connected thereto can be elevated relative to the main frame 4 95 periphery of the roller and being lsuiii'ciently wide to receive a bolt or other fastening device, such as indicated at 25, for the purpose of holding cutting blades upon said projecting points.

In the form of machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a draft tongue 27 is connected to the front axle 2, but it is to be understood, if preferred, thills or shafts 28 may be connected to the front axle as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5.

When the machine is drawn forward, the roller 15 presses downward on the ground and at the same time the blades 26 cut the stalks, it being Vunderstood of course, that the roller and the blades are pressed downwardly yieldin ly by the springs 20 which push against tie heads 17 and thus cause the bars or rods 16 to orce the trunnions 14 downwardly within the slots 13. Should the roller and its blades come into contact with an obstruction, the said roller and blades will be capable of moving upwardly a distance equal to the Vlength of the slots 13 but should this distance be insufficient to permit the roller to pass over the obstruction, further upward movement of said roller is per-- mitted in view of the fact that the auxiliary frame 7 is carried by flexible supports capable of swinging upwardly,

Inasmuch as the guide rods 18 and their stems 19 are capable of swinging relative to the shield 6, it will be apparent that the rods 16 will not prevent the upward swinging movement of the auxiliary fra-me 7.

If desired, the blades 26 can be removed from the points of the star wheels as shown in Fig. 4, itbeing thus possible to use the machine solely for rolling.

If desired, and as shown in Fig. 5, drag bars may be pivotally connected to the front axle of the machine so as to straighten out the stalks as the machine moves Iorward and bring .them into position to be severed by the cutting blades. These guide blades have been designated by the numeral 29. A foot rest or brace may be placed upon the top portion of the frame.

l Various changes can of course be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. Ina machine of the class described, a wheel supported main frame, an auxiliary frame, downwardly swinging connections between the main and auxiliary frames, an element slidably and revolubly mounted within the auxiliary frame, and a spring controlled means for exerting a constant pressure upon the element.

2. A machine of the class described' including a wheel supported main frame, an auxiliary frame therebelow, adjustable connections between the front portions of the auxiliary frame and the main frame, flexible connections between the rear portion of the auxiliary frame and the main frame, an element slidably' and revolubly mounted within the auxiliary frame, and means carried by the main frame for exerting a constant downward yielding pressure upon the element.

3. In a machine of the class described a wheel supported main frame, an auxiliary frame therebelow and mounted for swinging movement relative thereto, longitudinally slotted hangers extending from the auxiliary frame, a soil engaging element, trunnions extending therefrom and slidablyand revolubly mounted within the slotted hangers, and spring pressed mea-ns carried by the main frame for exerting a constant downward' pressure upon the trunnions.

4. A machine of the class described in cluding a wheel supported main frame, a guard thereon, an auxiliary frame mounted for swinging movement relative to said frame, hangers depending from the auxiliary frame, a soil engaging element, trunnions thereon, slidably and revolubly mounted upon the hangers, and spring pressed means carried by the guard for exerting a 'constant downward pressure upon the trunnions. Y

5. A machine ot the class Vdescribed including a wheel supported main frame, a guard thereon, an auxiliary frame, longitudinally adjustable connections hingedly attached to the main frame and to the front portion of the auxiliary frame, flexible connections between the rear portions of the auxiliary frame and the main frame, hangers depending from the auxiliary frame, a soil engaging element, trunnions thereon mounted for sliding and rotary movement within the hangers, and spring pressed means carried by lthe guard for exerting a constant downward pressure upon the trunnions.

6. In a machine of the class described, a wheel supported main frame, an auxiliary frame, longitudinally adjustable connecting rods pivotally attached to the main and auxiliary frames, flexible connections between the main and auxiliary frames, said rods and flexible connections converging downwardly, a shield upon the main frame,

mounted Within the auxiliary frame, means In testimony that I claim the forevoing as supported by the main frame for succesmy own, I have hereto affixed my slgnature 10 slvely elevating; the revoulle elzment Withir in the presence of two Witnesses.

t e auxi iar 'rame an 4or e evatinvf sait v auxiliary frgrne relative to the main frame, THOMAS A' HENLE' and spring controlled means carried by the Witnesses:

main frame for exerting a constant pressure W. C. GRAHAM,

upon the revoluble element. B. G. NOLAN. 

